Move over law gives Bennett belated victory

When Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a massive transportation bill on Wednesday night, he gave former state Sen. Mike Bennett a belated legislative victory.

For 10 years in the Legislature, Bennett, R-Bradenton, pushed for legislation to force drivers going below the speed limit out of the far left lane on state roads. Bennett said the slower cars slow traffic and add to the problem of road rage.

His legislation passed the Legislature one year, but was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush. In subsequent years, the bill would pass the Senate but not the House, and in others neither pushed it through.

Bennett was term limited out of the Senate last year and is now the Supervisor of Elections in Manatee County. Bennett said he thought his idea finally had met its demise before Scott signed the transportation bill this week.

“I’m just glad to see it finally get through,” Bennett said of Scott signing HB 7125, which includes the section that would fine drivers $60 for going 10 miles per hour below a posted speed limit while traveling in the left lane. “Sometimes it just takes years for an idea to come to fruition.”

The Bennett-inspired provision applies to any road, street, or highway having two more lanes that allow traffic to flow in the same direction, but does not apply if the driver is passing another vehicle that is traveling in the same direction or if the driver is preparing to make a left-turn at an intersection.

Current Florida law already requires cars going "less than the normal speed of traffic" to move to the far right-hand lane when possible, but normal speed was never defined. The new law goes into effect on July 1.

The massive bill also included provisions revamping laws that deal with ignition-interlock devices issued to some people convicted of drunken driving and approving new specialty license plates. Among the groups that would receive plates are the American Legion, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Lauren’s Kids, which is a program aimed at preventing sexual abuse of children.

Jeremy Wallace

Jeremy Wallace has covered politics for more than 15 years.
He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4966.
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Last modified: June 13, 2013
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